New releases last eight weeks: Disco/Re-Edits

Review: Mikal Asher, a scion of Jamaica's Morgan family dynasty, reunites with Chocolate Star Records here and does so with a collaboration with disco legend Gary Davis. Asher, akin to his brother Denroy Morgan, upholds the family's legacy of righteousness through music. Known as the Binghiman, he crafts captivating tunes with profound lyrics and has recorded in Ghana's Hustle Hard Studios and collaborated with industry pioneers in Kingston and Brooklyn, setting new standards in musical excellence along the way. Here, 'Wicked Ah Fi' transforms into a modern dub stepper, while 'Black Woman' offers a soulful, laid-back dedication to Davis' wife, Sonjia. This 7" also comes with innovative remixes from California-based DJ and producer Knoe1.

Review: The soul, funk and disco 7" community is a strong one. Besides garage rock and psychedelic rock, there might not be another genre that is so beloved on the small but mighty 45rpm format. So, it completely makes sense if you are a newer producer releasing music in these genres then definitely know your fan base. Cool Million is a Danish and German duo doing just that. Their track 'Stronger' is the track and the title of their sixth full length album from 2019. The album has gained such strong reviews that they put it now as a single along with the Dub version on the reverse side. 'Stronger' is a positive and upbeat anthem that is sure reign in the innocent bystanders to party. The Dub is a super-cool alternative version that reminds of us classic roller-skating funk track from Midnight Star or Kool & The Gang. Need a party starter? Get this!

Review: Cool Million's Tonight featuring the legendary Glenn Jones is a catchy fusion of 80s soul and funk with modern flair. Jones's soulful vocals effortlessly glide over smooth lyrics, perfectly complementing the infectious groove laid down by Cool Million and the track exudes a nostalgic vibe while still feeling fresh and contemporary, showcasing the duo's adeptness at blending retro influences with modern production. 'Tonight' has a timeless appeal of soul and funk, making it a entertaining listen for fans of both classic and contemporary music alike.

Review: Cool Million featuring Kenny Thomas on vocals is a refreshing return to the soulful sounds of yesteryear. With Without Your Love, the duo, Rob Hardt and Frank Ryle, once again showcase their talent for crafting infectious grooves that harken back to a more musically satisfying era. Thomas's soulful delivery shines on this track, serving as the perfect complement to the funky rhythm and melody. The song exudes a timeless quality, reminiscent of classic soul and R&B from the 80s, with its boogie-inspired feel and soulful synths reminiscent of artists like Paul Laurence and Kashif. Originally released in 2012, this track now get's its own 7" for DJs and collectors to highlight the standout track.

Review: Danish-German production duo Cool Million (Frank Ryle, Robert 'Rob' Hardt) are specialists in nu-disco and neo-boogie. Until late, they've flaunted this expertise via their renditions of old funk standouts, be that from the likes of Donald Byrd or James Brown. Here, however, the pair team up with Tomas Thordarson for a front-and-centre G-funker of the squeeziest quality, 'My Life', whose lyrics match its form via mentions of 'cutting like a knife' rhymed, of course, with 'paradise'. The instrumental dub is just as glassy and arid, its standout element being the huge, zesty, quivering chords marking out the phrase transitions.

Review: Twilight is the latest piece by long time DJ, producer and remixer, Dominic Dawson. The Japanese label Flower, has released this single to 7" complete with a remix for the second side. The title track is a catchy and funky house track that while the remix is a bit more Balearic and beachy. Both versions have their place in any house setlist and will set the tone for any eclectic DJ set. With the DJing background Dominic has, he is a great guide to setting the mood with music. Like the title artwork suggests, this is perfect music to watch the sun go down to.

Review: Marseille's Mofak lays down yet another two modern boogie cuts for the fans. The titular 'Rock Your Money', featuring the vocal talents of Said (IAM) and Elois Scroggins, makes ample use of appended vocoder and telephoning lead vox; all comes wrapped in an ultimately bouncy number, against which Scroggins' vocals are stark. On the B, we hear 'System 3.0', a logical continuation of the A-side's theme, albeit this time gladly accepting the femme vocal assurances of AprilSoul, while Mofak himself hops on the vocoder; both paint a picture of a systematic love, one which cannot survive without vice and indulgence.

Review: Mousse T.'s latest album, Melodie, is a testament to his enduring prowess in the realm of dance music. Following a string of successful remixes and collaborations, Mousse T. teams up with The Shapeshifters and Tensnake to deliver a sophisticated groover that exudes disco nostalgia. Featuring the enchanting vocals of Cleah, 'Melodie' captures the essence of classic disco while infusing it with modern flair. From start to finish, the album is a journey through infectious beats, funky basslines and irresistible melodies, showcasing Mousse T.'s impeccable production skills and his ability to create music that keeps the dance floor grooving. With its timeless sound and undeniable energy, 'Melodie' solidifies Mousse T.'s status as a master of the disco 3000 sound, ensuring that his music will continue to captivate audiences around the world.

Review: Comb Edits is, at least in our world, officially the best thing to come out of Norwich since Colman's Mustard (or perhaps Justin Fashanu). The hush-hush project has been serving up occasional must-have re-edits for a while, with some of their earliest releases becoming in-demand items on the second-hand market. 'Por Amor', which opened the mystery editor's first EP in 2021, is probably the most sought-after scalpel job of the lot. It's a light-touch rework of a gorgeous slow-motion and sun-splashed Latin cover of a Bobby Caldwell classic - the kind of thing that disco, soul and Balearic heads will love. This reissue presents two new tweaks: a slightly shortened (but no less gorgeous 7"-mix), and a stripped-back, bass-heavy and delay-laden 'dub mix' that's especially essential. Don't sleep!

Review: Not long after a lovely 7" from Ryusenkei in the form of 'Spring Rain', CMT is back with more beguiling and beautiful sounds from the Japanese artists. As always she mixes up elements of jazz funk, city pop, disco and more next to swooning instrumentals while her delicate voice soars. 'Timemachine Love' has a nice upbeat disco feel and rolling bass that never lets up on on the flip of this special sealer vinyl is 'Rainy Cinderella (radio edit) which is a more slow and sentimental soul sound that has poised bass and melancholic horns.

Review: CMT hits its tenth release and serves up a super sweet 7" featuring a fascinating fusion of sounds from Ryusenkei. The A-side here, 'Spring Rain' is a mix of jazz funk, city pop, disco and plenty more, with lush instrumentals and her own delicate vocals sung in Japanese, though she appears to sing the title in English. On the flip is 'Tokyo Sniper' which is a more slow and sentiment soul sound with neat keys and riffs, lush arps and plenty of rich pianos that frame the vocals - which pair off Ryusenkei with a male response - perfectly.

Review: On The Line features Vancouver producer and keyboardist Jonny Tobin while Maya Killtron is featured on vocals and the result of the collaboration is a smooth, soulful and AM radio.song that captures a genuine 70s pop sound of a bygone era. Jonny shines throughout the piece and especially on the solo. For the second side of the 7", 'The Light In All Of Us' is a slick instrumental that hits all the right notes. This 7" is pure class.